Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rose in December by the largest amount in three months, led by a huge jump in demand for commercial aircraft and the biggest increase in orders for cars and trucks in more than two years, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported today that new orders for durable goods rose 3.1 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted total of $221.9 billion. The gain followed a 2.2 percent increase in November and was the strongest showing since an 8.7 percent advance in September.

The automotive sector, which struggled last year with rising gasoline prices and stiff foreign competition, saw a 6.8 percent rise in orders for vehicles and parts, the biggest one-month gain since August 2004. Excluding transportation, orders for durable goods posted a solid 2.3 percent increase, the best showing in this category since last March.